THE SPORT
WHAT IS PADEL?
Padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash. Played on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court, it's always played in doubles and uses solid, stringless racquets.
Born in Mexico in 1969, padel has exploded across Spain, Argentina, and everywhere in the world but the US. Over 25 million people play worldwide — and it's finally arriving in Portland. For now, we're bringing the sport to the Pacific Northwest.
The glass walls keep the ball in play, creating longer rallies, more strategy, and way more fun than you'd expect.
HOW TO PLAY
DOUBLES ONLY
Padel is played in doubles on a 10m x 20m enclosed court with glass walls and metallic mesh.
UNDERARM SERVE
The serve must be underarm, hit at or below waist height. Easier to learn, still tactical.
WALLS IN PLAY
Like squash, the ball can bounce off the glass walls. This creates unique angles and rallies.
SCORING
Same scoring as tennis — 15, 30, 40, deuce, advantage. Best of 3 sets wins the match.